Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
Introduced
Summary
Office of Small Farms would create a new Office of Small Farms inside USDA's Farm Production and Conservation mission area to coordinate programs and expand support for small farms, ranches, and forest operations.
Show full summary
- Small farm operators would get targeted help and small grants. The Office could provide technical assistance, a hotline for access problems, and grants up to $25,000 for equipment, repairs, uninsured losses, business planning, conservation, land down payments, and other needs.
- Each State would have a designated small farms coordinator drawn from State Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or rural development staff. Coordinators would build and oversee State plans and spend at least 50 percent of their duties on small farm issues.
- USDA would appoint a Director and agency liaisons to review policies, track small-farm data, recommend new initiatives, and coordinate outreach. The bill would authorize $15 million per year for Office administration and $10 million per year for technical assistance and grants for FY2027–2031.
*This bill would authorize $25 million per year for FY2027 through FY2031, totaling $125 million in authorized funding that would increase federal obligations by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Small farm grants and help
If enacted, the Office of Small Farms would run a grants and technical assistance program. Grants to qualifying small operators would be limited to $25,000 per award. The grants could pay for repairs, uninsured losses, business planning, conservation practices, or land down payments. The bill would authorize $10 million per year for grants and TA and $15 million per year for Office administration for FY2027 through FY2031.
State small farms coordinators
If enacted, the Director would designate one State small farms coordinator in each State from State office employees. Coordinators would get training from the Secretary and must spend at least half their duties on small farms. They would coordinate local technical assistance, prepare State plans for improving delivery, help with outreach and partnerships, and may give grants under Office criteria.
Who counts as a small farm
If enacted, the bill would define a "small farm, ranch, or forest operation" for Office programs. An operation would qualify if it is under 180 acres or meets an alternate acreage rule set by the Secretary, and if annual gross cash farm income is under $350,000. This definition would determine who can get grants, technical help, and other Office services.
USDA Office for small farms
If enacted, the Secretary would establish an Office of Small Farms inside USDA's Farm Production and Conservation area. The Office would have a Director and liaisons from key USDA agencies. The Director would review USDA rules, recommend changes, set research and data priorities, run an anonymous hotline for access problems, and report to Congress each year on results.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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